WWII B-24 Navigator 467th Bomb Group, Second Air Division, 8th Air Force
The Life of a Soldier
We left Harrisburg by troop train on February 26, 1943, and three days later arrived in Miami Beach, Florida. At first we stayed at the Broad Ripple Hotel, but then on March 8, we moved to the Sea Isle Hotel. The law of the land was laid down to us and restrictions were tough. One mistake by one person, and everyone gets restricted. We had three double decker beds to a room. Lights were out at 9 p.m. After drilling and chow, we had P.T. on the beach, and we went swimming afterwards.
We went to the drill field at 7:30 a.m., and drilled in mass formation until lunch. After lunch we got a lecture on gas masks and also on camouflage.
Today we waited in line for a 1/2 hour for breakfast and then got oatmeal, canned milk, and an omelette. We went down to 15th Street and got examined for a hernia, color blindness, and a hearing test. We waited in line over an hour for our noon meal, and then we went back to the drill field and paraded from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. || || ||
Interview conducted by son, Jonathan Bickel
A biography of Mr. Bickel. If interested in receiving a copy of this book, contact J. Bickel .
WWII B-24 Navigator 467th Bomb Group, Second Air Division, 8th Air Force
The Life of a Soldier
We left Harrisburg by troop train on February 26, 1943, and three days later arrived in Miami Beach, Florida. At first we stayed at the Broad Ripple Hotel, but then on March 8, we moved to the Sea Isle Hotel. The law of the land was laid down to us and restrictions were tough. One mistake by one person, and everyone gets restricted. We had three double decker beds to a room. Lights were out at 9 p.m. After drilling and chow, we had P.T. on the beach, and we went swimming afterwards.
We went to the drill field at 7:30 a.m., and drilled in mass formation until lunch. After lunch we got a lecture on gas masks and also on camouflage.
Today we waited in line for a 1/2 hour for breakfast and then got oatmeal, canned milk, and an omelette. We went down to 15th Street and got examined for a hernia, color blindness, and a hearing test. We waited in line over an hour for our noon meal, and then we went back to the drill field and paraded from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. || || ||